Chaos and cakeism!

So the chaos at Dover continues, if a little less fiercely, and is still the fault of the French according to some. The Financial Times apparently has some other ideas. The port of Dover handles 2.2 million passenger vehicles a year. Back in October they asked for funding to help pay for additional Brexit-related border expenses. There was a £33m proposal to double the number of  French government passport booths from 5 to 10 in anticipation of the need for passports to be stamped and other more stringent measures. According to the Financial Times, this proposal was turned down by the cabinet. 

Clearly the French are to blame!

And here’s an interesting little something, a blast from the past:-

“I don’t want my daughters to grow up in a world where they need a visa or permit to work in Europe; or where they are hampered from growing a business because of extortionate call costs and barriers to trade.

Every parent wants their children to grow up in a helathybenvironment with clean water, fresh air and theiving natural wonders. Being part of the EU helps protect these precious resources and spaces.”

• Liz Truss, June 2016. 

I suppose everyone is entitled to a change of heart, a change of mind but not everyone is trying to be prime minister.  Maybe she just says what suits the moment. Other politicians have been known to do that. Be that as it may, now she is an ardent Brexiteer, believing now in the idea that by putting up barriers to trade with Europe we could become a richer country. And she has other plans, wanting simultaneously to cut the money coming into the public coffers and increase the money going out: less tax and more spending at the same time. She’ll cancel the national insurance rise and jack up the defence budget. 

I understand that this is called “cakeism”. I wondered if the name had anything to do with a certain PM’s birthday cake but investigation twlls me otherwise. One dictionary defines it as: 

“the wish to have or do two good things at the same time when this is impossible. This word comes from the phrase “to have your cake and eat it too: 

He seems to be running for election on a platform of cakeism: you can have your cake and eat it , too.”

Maybe that last bit should be she not he.

Here’s another definition”

“Term used to describe the random sentences of wisdom that came from ancient Graeco-Roman philosophers. Cakisms are used to explain events such as the creation of mankind, how to obtain world peace, and why stid people exist.

"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.” "Wow, that was a really deep Cakism."

 

And one last definition; 

“Noun

cakeism 

1. (UK politics) The doctrine of having one’s cake and eating it too, particularly regarding the UK’s approach to Brexit negotiations and subsequent deliberations. “

There you go. 

Meanwhile, Tata Steel are considering closing their plant in Port Talbot Wales, unless they get financial assistance from the UK government, with a knock on effect to workers in other related industries in the UK. Mark Drakeford, First Minister for Wales, at least I think that’s who it was, said on the radio that this event has been looming for some time. Presumably we have heard little about it because there has been such a lot of scandal stuff going on in Westminster! And presumably it’s not going to be sorted out until September when they have selected a new PM. Indeed Mr Drakeford says he has only spoken to Mr Johnson once in the last year. That’s how important the Union is the Mr Johnson! 

By the way, Tata Steel is Indian owned! And EDF - that’s Électricité de France, in case anyone doesn’t know - are going to be building a new nuclear power station. Is taking back control and giving it to other countries another example of cakism?

But not to worry, they’ve made British Bake-Off into a musical! Songs about cakes! 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!